FEBRUARY, 2019 SENIOR PASTOR: REV. MEGAN HUNT FRYLING [email protected]ASSOCIATE PASTOR: REV. IOAN ITTU [email protected]DIRECTORS OF MUSIC MINISTRY: VICENTE DITTO MARISA RAWLINS-BRADFIELD MATTHEW A. KESSELL [email protected][email protected][email protected]BOOKKEEPER: RICK DEMLOW [email protected]FRONT OFFICE ASSISTANT: EVELYN CULAJAY [email protected]YOUTH DIRECTOR: SAM MANUAL [email protected]PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR: MARY ASHDJIAN-KANDILIAN [email protected]CONTACT BY PHONE: CHURCH: 818-360-4777 PRESCHOOL: 818-368-6947 FAX: 818-360-5559 The Bethlehem Star 9:00AM — CONTEMPORARY STYLE 10:10AM — SUNDAY SCHOOL (SEPT-MAY) 11:00AM — TRADITIONAL STYLE SUNDAY WORSHIP: STAFF: T O K NOW C HRIST ... TO M AKE C HRIST KNOWN Bethlehem Family, Back in December, my family got a wonderful Christmas Eve surprise. In the midst of Christmas Eve worship preparations, we received a call about a baby who needed a resource (foster) family. It’s been a roller coaster of a month since then as we had to quickly buy things for a newborn, readjust our schedules, and get used to life with only 2 or 3 hours of sleep at a time. As you know though, this is what we expected and what we were open to. We also knew that it was possible for us to be resource (foster) parents for a little baby because we have the support not only of our immediate family members and friends, but of our church family as well. You have all been so wonderful and supportive with your prayers, kind words, gifts, and offers to watch or hold the baby or to play with and care for Desmond as he adjusts to it all too. A huge heartfelt thank-you to all of you for the way you’ve been so gracious and welcoming with the newest member of our family. I also greatly appreciate your respect of her privacy and your understanding of the nature of the whole foster child thing. You won’t be seeing photos of her on the church Facebook page (or our personal social media profiles). However, you will be seeing her at church with me or with Kyle. She’ll become a part of the Bethlehem family in worship and in the childcare center and I know she’ll be loved by all of you just the same as you love Desmond. I’m so thankful that she gets to have the amazing blessing of a caring Christian community in the early part of her life. While we don’t know how long she’ll be with us, whether it’s a short time or a long time, I know that this early love from a community will be something that will make an impact on her for a lifetime. Every kid deserves to be safe, to be loved and cared for. Every kid deserves to know that they are loved by God and that they’re loved by other people too. That’s exactly the kind of gift that you’re giving her. She may not be able to express her thankfulness in words or in writing, but we’re thankful on her behalf and we know what a difference all of you are making in her life already! Thank you! PASTOR’S MESSAGE MEGAN FRYLING Senior Pastor [email protected]
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SUMMARY OF BETHLEHEM COUNCIL MINUTES – JANUARY 16, 2019 Present at the meeting were Pastor Megan, Pastor Ioan, Scott Fisher, Sarah Karzel, Brian Grefsrud, Bev
Compton, Sue Akin, Lisa Nakata, Betsy Kalusa, Nicole Hernandez Liva, and Donna Ophus. Devotions were a
sharing of how God is working in our world followed with prayer by Pastor Megan. The December 12, 2018,
minutes were reviewed and approved.
There was review of the agenda for the congregational meeting. The “Proposed FY ‘19 Budget Adjusted for
Merger” will be presented. There was discussion of the positions that need to be filled - Building and
Grounds, Evangelism, Stewardship, MEFT members, and Synod Assembly Delegates.
Sarah reported on the meeting held to address the need for space planning. She presented a floor plan of
the hall space between the MPR room and the toddler room and went over several possible changes to
modify this area. She will put an article in the newsletter explaining the need for and rationale for this space
planning.
Bev presented estimates for updating the infant room. There was approval of $4200 for this. Sarah reported
that the endowment committee had approved to spend $51,000 to purchase the new piano. The council
acknowledged and accepted this decision.
Pastor Megan will be taking 3 weeks of parental leave from 2/11 - 3/3 and Pastor Ioan will be our full time
pastor during her leave. Pastor Ioan is on ¾ time, that is, 30 hours per week. One of the days he will be in the
office is on Fridays. When Pastor Megan returns from leave he will revisit how to best allot his time. He will be
recruiting members for various volunteer roles including counters and office volunteers.
December offerings were up considerably. The Preschool income in December was below what was expected
it to be and Bev will check on this. The council agreed that 1) $72,000 from the “MIF Endowment Funds”, set
up for such purposes, will go to pay for the new piano, Associate Pastor, and Music Staff; 2) money ($23,000)
will be transferred from the church account to the parsonage fund which will bring the parsonage fund back
up to $52,000.
Bev reported that the annual preschool audit is ongoing. The total number of students is 130 with 23
teachers and staff. There will be a Chuck E Cheese fundraiser on January 21, teacher appreciation is in March,
and a waffle breakfast will be held on April 13.
Sue reported there will be a Worship and Music meeting on February 3 focusing on Lent, Holy Week and
Easter. Worship leader training is ongoing as well as planning for the Bell Choir. Lisa reported that youth will
be going to the African American Museum on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to participate in events to honor Dr.
King. The youth will also be working on fundraising for Youth Gathering 2021.
Nicole reported there is a need to write a grant request for help with the Mexico Trip. She will be setting up a
Meal Train for Pastor Megan to support her while she is on leave and Kyle is out of town for work. Betsy
reported that there will be Refreshment training on Saturday, January 19.
The meeting was adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer. The next council meeting will be on February 20.
Donna Ophus, Secretary
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MEET THE MEMBERS By Marilyn Fursman
Dorothy Stilling is an energetic new member, a “cradle Lutheran” who loves singing in the choir, playing
bridge, reading books, making new friends, travel, reunions with her husband’s 486th
Bomb Group, attending the annual Farstrup-Mortenson Lectures in Solvang and
beating her grandsons at golf. A highlight of her travels was a recent trip to
Denmark with ten family members to visit cousins.
Dorothy has been active in Women of the ELCA and the craft group and has served
several times on the Congregation Council as chair of Education, chair of Fellowship
and member of the Call Committee that found Pr. Ioan Ittu for St. Stephen’s
Lutheran Church. She also was one of the members of the Appreciative Inquiry
group that met at Bethlehem every month during 2017. She says that because St.
Stephen’s had just done so much similar work for the Call process (i.e., examining
strengths and weaknesses of the congregation, visioning, setting goals) a lot of what was discussed
seemed repetitive. She did enjoy time spent getting to know some of the Bethlehem members.
The seventh of eight children was born at home on the family farm in Newell, Iowa. A chance
meeting in Des Moines, Iowa between Dorothy and Richard (aka Dick) Stilling, who was home on a
school vacation, led to their corresponding daily and eventually marrying. She attributes the longevity of
their marriage (more than 60 years) to the fact that they had so many things in common; i.e., Danish
heritage, Lutheran upbringing, common beliefs and life goals and an innate curiosity about so many
things. Dick, recently deceased, was a World War II veteran who studied law and became an FBI agent.
They moved from Maryland to Seattle to Washington D.C. before settling in Southern California. As a
newlywed, Dorothy’s first jobs included work as a bookkeeper, secretary and receptionist. She was in the
first graduating class of California State University at Northridge (originally San Fernando Valley State
College). With a degree in education, she worked many years as a teacher in the Los Angeles public
school system.
In the mid 1950s, as new residents of the San Fernando Valley, her family was excited to be part of
the new Lutheran church being built on Chatsworth St. in Granada Hills. The first 200 people met at an
elementary school, then land was purchased to build the Fellowship Hall and classroom buildings.
Dorothy was a charter member of St. Stephen’s. Later, there was much excitement acquiring the
beautiful stained glass window for the new larger sanctuary. As the church grew (eventually to 1400
members), its activities often were featured in the local newspaper. She recalls, “The Sunday school was
good for our two daughters, the people were great and we liked Pr. Tollefson.
She affirms that, “The church (and sermons particularly) keeps me focused on what’s important.
Here at Bethlehem, it’s very special to have two pastors with inspirational messages each week and
available for support at all times. The congregation is fortunate also to have four talented musicians
guiding the music department.”
Dorothy believes that church growth can happen when a church is welcoming, not only on
Sundays, but on other days as well. She is quick to say that Bethlehem members have been very
welcoming and that helps the merger to be a success. Her hope for the future is that the two
congregations will blend and will be very strong together in attracting others to what we have to offer.
Words of wisdom that have served her well: Try to be positive always and don’t dwell on the past.
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MEET THE MEMBERS By Marilyn Fursman
Pete (Floyd) Pedersen was born on an 80-acre dairy farm in Wisconsin, the second of seven children.
“The farm wasn’t big enough to produce enough income to sustain a family,” he says,
“but we always had food.”
Growing up he attended a one-room school house that accommodated eight
grades. Of Danish heritage, he was baptized a Lutheran in a town called Luck. Pete
recalls his Confirmation classes and says, “We had to memorize a lot.” Before being
confirmed, he had to endure the nerve-wracking experience of having to answer
questions in front of the congregation.
Pete grew to be 6 ft. 6 in. tall, but managed to stay off the basketball court. “They
wanted me to play,” he recalls, “but I was too clumsy.”
About the time the Korean conflict was ending, Pete enlisted and was in the Army
Security Agency in Germany for two years of his three year tour of duty. While
stationed in Germany, he met the lovely Edelgard; they married in 1961 and had three children.
After serving in the military, Pete worked for manufacturing firms including Ampex in Redwood City,
where he was Manager of Material Control and Purchasing. The company produces high-capacity,
high-performance digital storage systems capable of functioning in demanding environments on
land, at sea or in the air. They are used in applications to gather digital images and other data from
aircraft, satellites and submarines.
Later he found fulfilling work at St. Jude Medical, a manufacturer of medical devices such as pace
makers and defibrillators.
In 1974 the family moved into their current Granada Hills home. It was Edelgard’s friend who
attended church at Bethlehem who encouraged them to switch from Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.
What keeps Pete coming to church? “I feel a need,” he admits. “When I didn’t go for awhile,
something was missing.” He likes hearing a message that helps him through the week. Pete believes the
kind of camaraderie and friendships he’s enjoyed would be something new people would like.
In retirement Pete enjoys playing Scrabble and touring the world via internet travel, which has raised
his interest in history; but, there is definitely a twinkle in his eye when he talks about his real hobby, which
is wood turning. Pete likes to work in his shop at home (the garage is his “man cave”). “I learned
carpentry from my dad,” he says. ”He had lots of woodworking tools.”
For those who are not familiar with “wood turning,” it is a type of woodworking used to create
wooden objects on a lathe, a power tool that rotates a piece of wood on an axis and allows one to shape
it using various carving tools. Smooth and with graceful lines, wood bowls, vases, candle sticks and
goblets are the kinds of products Pete has made. His church, Kiwanis and Lutheran Social Services are
among the organizations that have benefited from his skillful creations, as he has donated some as prizes
for their fundraisers.
A quiet, introspective man, and a good listener, Pete says, “I never anticipated doing what I did in life,
but I’m satisfied with where I’ve gone….Seems things worked out alright.”